The Book of Bark #BookTour #Interview

Only one thing is so powerful, so dangerous that Heaven and Hell must work together to find it: the Shard of Gabriel.

With a mysterious Black Cloud of Death hot on the shard’s trail, a desperate Heaven enlists the help of Bart, a demon who knows more about the shard than almost anyone. Six years ago, he had it in his hands. If only he’d used it before his coup to overthrow the devil failed. Now, he’s been sprung from his eternal punishment to help Samantha, an angel in training, recover the shard before the Black Cloud of Death finds it.

If Bartholomew wants to succeed, he’ll have to fight the temptation to betray Samantha and the allure of the shard. After an existence full of evil, the only way Bart can get right with Hell is to be good.

Growing up, Ryan Hill used to spend his time reading and writing instead of doing homework. This resulted in an obsession with becoming a writer, but also a gross incompetence in the fields of science and mathematics. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Ryan has been a film critic for over five years. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his dog/shadow Maggie. Ryan also feels strange about referring to himself in the third person.

Links: Website + Goodreads + Twitter

Tell us about your latest book.

THE BOOK OF BART is actually my first book. It’s FLETCH meets John

Hughes, only instead of Chevy Chase, it’s told from a demon’s point of view.

Bartholomew, the demon in question, is forced to work with an angel to find a

powerful religious relic. Hijinks ensue.

 Where did the idea for the book come from?

I’d written an earlier manuscript where Bart was the main villain, and he was so much

fun to write I retooled him and fashioned a book with him as the main character,

where he gets to act like the scoundrel he is.

 Who and what inspire you to write?

I’ve always wanted to write, ever since I was a kid. It was just an itch I always had to

scratch.

Each author has his or her own inspiring journey. How did you begin writing?

Ever since I could read, I’ve wanted to write. After finishing grad school, I even

moved out to Los Angeles in the hopes of being a screenwriter. That didn’t work

out, so I moved back home to NC and focused entirely on fiction writing.

 What has been the most pleasant surprise about writing? How about an

unexpected down side? The most pleasant surprise?

The wonderful feeling you get when someone who took the time to read something

you’ve spent a year or two on lets you know how much they loved your work.

The worst part is the anxiety you experience while waiting for said review.

Waiting for release day to come is pretty scary too, it’s like you’re counting down

the days until your baby is released out into the world.

 Do you have any writing rituals?

I try to write at least 3,000 words a day. I also like to rotate between writing at home,

Panera, and Starbucks. Other than that, I just write when I can.

Do you write your books in order?

I do, but I always know where my book is heading, and if I come up with a scene

I like, I’ll write some notes no it, then address it when I get to that point in the

manuscript.

What is on your writing playlist for this book?

Hmm. I don’t really have a playlist, per se. There’s one part in THE BOOK OF

BART that Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around” is featured, but that’s it,

really.

What advice would you give writers who aspire to be published?

Keep writing. Learn the business. Make contacts. Grow a thick skin. Embrace

rejection.

 Are you working on anything new right now?

I’m working on edits for my zombie novel DEAD NEW WORLD (coming Oct. 13),

and finalizing a manuscript called THE CONCH SHELL OF DOOM.

Who is your favorite character in your current book?

Bart. Bart is my favorite character ever.

What is your favorite book of all time?

A tie between Nick Hornby’s HIGH FIDELITY and Hunter S. Thompson’s FEAR

AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your book.

Because it will change your life.